17,767 Global SAMS Family Members

SAMS Family History

This interesting surname is a patronymic from the given name Sam(m), a medieval derivative form of the biblical name Samson, itself coming from the Hebrew Shimshon, a diminutive of "shemesh" meaning "sun". Among Christians, it may sometimes have been chosen as a given name or nickname in direct reference to the great strength of the biblical character, but a more common association was with the 6th Century Welsh bishop Samson, who travelled to Brittany, where he died and was greatly venerated. His name, which may be an altered form of the Celtic origin, was popularized in England by Breton followers of William the Conqueror, and to some extent independently from Wales.